progress made

I finished my challenge quilt in time :) The binding was done at 1 AM and I turned it in by 8:30 - whew!

I forgot to take a picture of the finished quilt *sigh* I'll catch one when I go to the quilt show later today ...

BUT! I did take a couple of progress shots: 

 I have an image of hands (my own photo), edited out the background and printed it onto batiks (two different ones were used for subtle differences). I fused the hands to black fabric, stitched them down and added a little bit of quilting. 

 The hands were cut out and I ran a black Sharpie over the batting that showed around the edges (it was distracting!).

 

I played with the arrangement of the hands and center quilt  until I was happy with the results. The totally on-point version did not look good (hence, no picture) and the straight on was OK (above), but this slightly skewed version is EXACTLY what my vision wanted to portray.

The quilt was bound with another thin dark binding and I sewed the fingers to the quilt (see the pins?). The hands/fingers are the bridging element ... they bring the whole design together.

Our guild challenge was to make a 20"X20" quilt, using a specified fabric (the batik in the stars, sashing and border of step one), using at least one Friendship Star block, with the theme of Threads of Friendship.

Do you think I got it right?

working on my challenge quilt ...

I have step one done - the small quilt in the center; pieced, quilted and bound.

I have step two done- the frame; quilted and bound on the center square

Now on to step three - adding to the frame the elements that hold the two together and then trimming the whole to size and binding :)

Do you think I will have it done for turning in tomorrow morning by 9 am????

I'm hoping so! If not, I have a plan B - cutting back on the element that holds the two together ;)

Two Posts in ONE day!

Don't expect this to happen often :P

As I was sitting here, I thought I should add in a picture of my most recent finish - the Joseph Lap Quilt:

I am getting better (more comfortable) with my new machine/frame combo and am almost ready to put other people's quilts on the frame :)

Joseph is for a pattern that I designed to use 10" squares. All of these fabrics are man-friendly (thus, the name Joseph). I will publish the pattern after I get at least two more sizes figured out ... the pattern is done for this size *YAY!*

March 23, 2015 - the year is flying by!

I've been busy ... I did not get the hat quilt done :( But close enough to know I like it and will have it finished before next year ;)

I finished up another quit for a pattern. Now to work on directions for at least two more sizes.

AND I have this lovely little piece on my design wall

Yes, it is little, it is just under 15"X20"

This piece is for a demo at my Quilt Guild in April - isn't it cute?

For more design wall goodness, check out Patchwork Times.

Life is SO busy!

My second semester back in college feels much busier than my first semester. I am trying to squeeze in time for quilting, but it doesn't always happen.

I do have a deadline, so I am squeezing other things to make time for quilting :) My guild challenge is due next week Monday and I hope (fingers crossed) to have my quilt finished by then. We will have to see!

The quilt I am doing is just blocks right now. I am using raw edge applique and sewing around the pieces with invisible thread.

The theme is hats. I am focusing on the hats a mother wears. As you can see, the inspiration for the design came from Warhol ;)

The faces were going to have more detail, but when working with the heads, I realized it was better to just have them as blanks. So many times we define mothers by what they do, not who they are, making the design more meaningful without the personal details in the faces.

Hopefully next Monday you can see the results of hours in my Sewing Dungeon!

Check out more quilting design walls at Patchwork Times.

On my Design Wall ...

Everything is where it was, but I have more of the applique pieces attached to the Lady quilt :) I still have 6 pieces that are waiting for applique and then I can sit down and stitch and stitch ...

I'm looking forward to assembling this quilt!

Check Patchwork Times for more design wall inspiration :)

Design Wall Monday

It has been a while! With an 8am Monday morning class, I've missed out on a few DWM posts. May be next semester ... ?

On my design wall this week is the Lady of Shallot piece, some random bits, a Guild Challenge piece and the Self Portrait that I started a while back (and haven't done much with).

I have been slowly chipping away at the Lady of Shallot design. I have the applique pieces in the little triangles and have stitched down the applique in one section:

All of the rest of the applique pieces are traced onto my fusible, now to iron it on the appropriate fabrics and get them all cut out!

My self portrait is just waiting for me to do something else with it. I was all gung-ho at first, but now I'm waiting for inspiration on taking it to the next level.  Do I want to add my glasses? If so, what is my best option? I really don't want to ruin it, so it sits on the wall and stares at me.

I've also got a start on a challenge issued by my guild. Anyone in my guild should recognize what challenge this one is for! (we have two challenges going right now)

What is on your design wall? Check out Patchwork Times for a bunch more design walls this week of Christmas!